Cane harvesting machine



Feb. 5, 1935.

WITNES 3 sheets-sheet'l ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1935. E. c. PITCHER CANE HARVESTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 193;)

INVENTOR NNNT NN WITNESS ATTORNEY .NNN

l) K QN\ Y fig/572621 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 5, 1935. E. c. PITCHER CANE HARvEsTING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1930 Patented Feb. 5, 1935 y gsra'ri;

CANE HAavEs'rING mlcnnvlil ,Elmer` o. Pitcher, Hayward, Calif., assigner to Falkiner Cane Harvester Corporation of America, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May15, 1930, lserial No. 452,755 1-o1aim. '(cl. zooi- 153) This invention relates' to cane harvesting machines and ismore particularlydirected to a device for cleaning the chopped caneof its leaves. Ank object of the invention' is the provisionof anapparatusfor' causing a tortuous path to be taken fbyxthe chopped cane vwhereby the cane is mcved:progressively.and through a path in the shapeofa distorted spiralso that the leaves and tops will vbefreed from Vthe chopped cane while a blast .of air.` is, forced directly through the center of the path of the cane for the vremoval of the lighter material, such as the leaves and tops,

- Another object of the invention is thev provision of adeviceinthe form of a revolving cylinder' carrying-z lifting 'blades disposed longitudinally of the inner, wallv ofthe vcylinder forvreceiving choppedr` cane and for .directing .the cane through aftortuo'us path, 'the chopped cane being fed centrally andi at the. elevated end of the cylinder which is inclined atan angleto the horizontal, afblowerbeing'located adjacent to the feeding end for maintaining a` 'continuous draft o-fair longitudinally of the axisof'the cylinder for removing4 lighter materialv from' the cane as it is progressively moved through the cylinder;

A further object of the invention is `the kprovision of a device for' removing leaves and tops andlight materialfrom chopped cane when said cane'is being moved progressively through an inclined revolving cylinder, an air blast being provided for jdriving thelighter 'material substantially axially of the cylinder while a second blower is located atthe discharge' end of the-cylinder for forcing a continuous blast of air through the discharging lcane in order to remove anylight material'which may have remained with the cane.

A fstill` further object of the invention is the provision ofv a'harvester which is adapted to be moved through a cane eld, a reciprocating cutter being employed at ther forward end of the machine for cutting the cane after which'thel cane is moved toward a chopping device to form short lengthsof the cane whichv is discharged into a cleaning device in the form offa cylinder locatedV at an angle to the horizontal whereby the lighter materiaLjsuch as leaves, are broken 01T from the ,choppedl cane and removed atvthe' discharge end of the cylinder Yindependently of the chopped cane.l -.v f

ai; invention will Abe ,best 'understood from -afconsideration 'of :the following 'detailed description, 4in-view of the accompanying drawingsform- .ing a partfof the speciiication;nevertheless, it is rtoubeunderstood that -the linvention is not ccninedto the disclosure,being susceptible of ysuch ,changes and modifications which shall dene no Ymaterial departureffrom the salient featuresof the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

Inthe'drawings: Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a cane harvesting machine constructed infaccordance with the principles of my invention,

Figure 2 is a front end view in elevation ofthe harvester,

- Figure 3 is a rear end view in elevation,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal Avertical section of the cleaning devicegand 1 Figure'5 is a plan view'of 'the harvester.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10`

designates generally a tractor which isadapted to be moved through a cane field under itsown power while carrying the harvester. Amotoril is mounted on the tractor, is independent-of` the motive power in the vtractor and is adapted to operate the moving parts of the-harvester.V

At the forward end of the harvesterA is provided a. pair of armsl 12 which are curved and adapted toembrace a'definite portion ofthe cane along the path-of thetractor for moving ,the cane towards a reciprocating cutter 13. These arms are supportedin anyzapproved manner andare made ofany material-suitable'for the purpose.`

The cutter 13` is in the `form of a reciprocatingl saw movable transverselyof'the-harvesterand is provided with a rearwardly :extending arm 14 pivotally connected to a link 15. This link in turn is connected to one endof a lever 16 pivoted at 17 on the frame of the harvester.y A link` 18 eccentrically connected rat 19 to a revolving rvwheel20 is alsopivotally connected at 21-to `the rear end of the lever 16 so that asthe wheel 20 isrevolved the lever 16 will be voscillatedv for' reciprocating the cutter 13. rIt will-be noted thatthe armsv12 are bowed inwardly towards the cutter 13 so thatv the stalks will be directed into the cutting edge of the member 13. A

A travelling carrier 25 is hingedly mountedon a shaft-*26 intermediate the ends of the harvester and a cable 27 is trained'on pulleysv28-29 Vand a Winch 30 upon whichthe cable is'adapted to be wound `for elevating the forward end` of the travelling carrier 25 when it is desired to. elevate the travelling carrier. n This carrier is adapted to move the stalks of the cane upwardly to the cutter31, cv 5 The motor 11 drives a shaft 32 upon which is mounteda pulley 33 driving a belt 34 which'in turn drives a pulley 35.andlikewise a shaft 36. The shaft in turn drives a pulley 3'? and a belt 38 trained on pulleys 37 and 3 9" drives the last- Amentioned pulley and likewisethe shaft 26 which operates the travelling carrier 25. Lvv

A pulley 40 is connected with th belt 43. The shaft 42 revolves -agear 44 connectedwith a gear 45. A shaft 46 driven bythe gearv45`` krevolves the wheelv of "the disc 20 which in turn causes reciprocation ofthe cutter 13.*

A revolving knife 31v is rigidly secured at one end to a shaft 50 which is driven by a pulley 51 snaftss and drives a pulley 41 and a shaft 42 by means of 'ai Y y :The cylinder 81 'is made of with a shaft 69. A bevel gear r10 rigid with the shaft 69is driven by a gear 71 whihnis revolvedby a shaft 72. This shaft 72 is driven'bymeans-of Va belt 73 and pulleys '74 and.33. f V. e The knife 31 is mounted within .aghousingf carried by the harvesterand` revolves adjacent toA one end of the platform .licutting the cane4 kstalks into lengths of about 6"".1 When thecane is cut the chopped cane falls upon an :inclined apron whence the cane is deposited directly into the upper elevated end of `a revolving cylinder 81. e

VA blower 82 is driven by means of pulleys r83 and 84 and a belt 85` trained on saidpulleys.' This blower has anair'conduit l86 which'leads into i the elevated kend Vofgthe' revolving cylinder 81 and directly below theffree edge of theapron 480 sothat a continuous blast of air will be forced axially and longitudinally of the cylinderj for removing lighter material, such as leaves; from the chopped cane. 1 y Y y metal and 'is provided `v'vithrings V90 at spaced intervals Ywhich areiengaged by a' pair of 4flanged rollers 91 mountedV in bear-ings carried by standards 92. These rollers support the cylinder `81 at an angle .to the horizontal so that thcreceiving end of the' cylinder'islocated at a vhigher elevation than the fdischarge end 93. -A- ring gearj94 is ,securedto the outer wall of the cylinderand is driven by a gear secured to a shaftv 69. i Afbox 81'is stationary` andVhas a tight'fltwithjthe upper end ofthe cylinder :81. The` air conduit 86 and knife box open into said box and into the cylinder.

The interiorof the cylinder is provided with f a plurality of "radially disposed'ribsor blades 96 whichextend longitudinally of the cylinder adapted `troreceivethe chopped caneand for mov'- ing the canein a semi-circular vpath as shown in Fig.y 3 whence the canewill fall from the ribs adjacent the longitudinal axis of the cylinder and fall tothe bottom; of the cylinder and this happens periodically 'so lthat the cane follows a disl torted spiral path through the cylinder. 'I'he'fagitation jand beating of the piecesof cane by the ribs in the revolving cylinder will tend -to break away leaves still clinging to pieces of thecanel so that'when the cane .arrives'at the discharge end it is substantially free 'of foreign matter orleaves. A blowerhaving an air conduit 101 termi- Y nagting at 102 adjacent to the lower rear `end of the cylinder 81 isa'dapted yto conduct a Vcontinuousblast of air through the chopped cane as it isudischarged from the cylinder for removing any light `.materials .stilll remaining inthe cane. v The -blower is driven by means cfa pulley 103, a belt 104 ,and the pulley83 ,securedV to the shaft 32. It will be noted that the'outletof the conduit. 101 is directly belowjthe rear end of .thecylinder 8l.

f A travelling conveyor. 105 `islocated. adjacent lto the rear endofthe cylinder 81 and receives the/cleaned vchoppedY cane as it flows from the discharge end? 93.7ofwthe cylinder and is car-riedl away :from .the cylinder ,and able-manner. The .conveyorfl is-driven'by a shaft 110,1 a.

stored in any suit# belt 1111 and apulley -1f12which in turn is. .driven brftheshanes.. w 1

A device which is located at the forward end-of the harvester is adapted to move the stalks of the cane towards the .travelling 1carrier .25 when thev cane stalks are being cut .andthis deviceconsists of a rotatable member A .having spaced rarms 121: connected by transverse bars122 and said member is driven by a pulley .123, a belt 124 which l is twisted and the pulley 37 connected to the shaft .36. `v`The member 120 is supported by means of standards 125 carried by. bars 126 forming a part i ofthe framework ofthe harvester.

A cable 13o passes throughan eye'at the oute end of a bar5'131 which supportsv the pulley 29.k `n'hiscable-is extended through an eye 132 at the upper end of a standard 133 and is continued .downwardly asfshown at 134 and connected 311:.135. When the cane chor'zpedirxto 6" lengthaiorapproximately of such lengthfthe Apieces are dis-1 charged bythe apron 80into the yelevatedfend.of the cylinder 81 whence'the caziefwill afdis torted spiral'path through the revolving tfillrider The continuous draft of air from thefdrawerfnis forced substantially along thelongitudinalaxis of the cylinder so that it will pick up light material and force it through the cylinder. It alsibe noted that when the pieces of cane areflevated by the ribs or'blades96 they willifall gravity after havingreached .the` upper limit ofztlietrcircular travel along the side walls` of the cylinder;

and will be'precipitated across theapatl ofthe alt forced throu'ghthe 'cylinder so that pieces of cane are always exposed to the Lair inorder toremove light pieces of material `which .aref.undesirable`. The blast of air from `the conduit 101 completes the cleaningoperation. V -v l.

It will be noted that theli gfbladesorilns 96 run longitudinally'voi' the cylinder 81 and ex tend'inwardly fora short distance inradiall planes. The cane is .periodically lifted and thenE dropped across the'longitudinal air blast; As the pieces of cane reach the lowermost point of travel; thynre littedtoa point on the cylinder. indicated 'ato when they `will. fall outwardly .and lpassith'rtilighla blast of Vair from the blower 100for a nnaleleanmg. y. k Y.

` The shaft 69 `drives a pulley 160 which in turn drivesv a belt 161, pulley 162 andr a"counter shaft 691. T'he gear 95 is driven bythe shaft 69* wh-ich it issecured. I A .y y lTheblade 31 is revolved in with the feedconveyor in such a'mannerthat'the speed of the knife and the speed of theeovyor will be timed to cut olf 'approximately' six-inch 'lengths ofthe-cane. e Y I The stationary box 81 has-atight fitto the upper endof'the revolving drum 81. 'The upper end of this box is closed except at the portion' where theair blast enters thesamerandl where-a feed opening is provided'to receive thecane. F l Iclaim: e i In a cane harvester, an inclined-cylinder, means for feeding cut cane so'that it will fa'llf across-the entrance `to the cylinder, means i'orI directinga blast of air through the cylinder, the air striking *the cane as it fallsacross thecylinderentrance for removing severed cane leaves from thestalks and for carrying them out th`e-open endof-the asY cylinder, means for rotating Vthe drum for tum`- Y bling the stalks for severing the leaves for causing the stalksand leaves to/pass through'the air draft a number-of times;v and an auxiliary air draft for `blowing through the etalks as-theyleavc Vthe cylinder for aiding in removing leaves. 

